Dehradun : The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) spearheaded the agitation for a separate statehood for the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh. They literally wooed the people and convinced them that a smaller state, with the hill people at the helm of affairs would usher in a new era of prosperity and development.
The people fell for the promise hook, bait and sinker and took to the streets. Men and women faced not only the turbulent weather of the hills, but even the lathis and bullets of the police and PAC. Women had to bear the ignominy of also being raped by the men in khakhi. But there was no stopping them and on Nov 9 2000, Uttarakhand became a reality.
But because of the myopic vision of the UKD leaders, coupled with their personal egos, ambitions and rudderless drive, the party that should have been calling the shots in this small mountain state and working to fulfill the hopes and ambitions of the people that they had promised them during the agitation, started decimating itself.
The people who were looking for a brighter tomorrow after the formation of the state, the dream that their children will not have to migrate from their homes in search of jobs in distant towns saw in disbelief as the UKD leaders hurled abuse at one another and were literally at daggers drawn. They started distancing themselves from the people in search of immediate power, which was not coming their way.
The party was formed way back in July 1979 and leaders like Indramani Badoni, contributed their might for nurturing the party and making it the local people’s first choice. But the personal whims of its leaders after the formation of the state, each portraying himself as the only man who matters in the party saw its decoline till in the 2012 vidhan sabha election it could manage to win in just one assembly segment.
And despite various efforts to somehow bring the warring leaders again together on a common platform and revive the party to its past days of glory, the situation only got from bad to worse as almost all and sundry in the UKD took the stand that had it not been for them the party would not have been anywhere.
The party had yet another split with a two day convention being held here recently where Kashi Singh Aeri was elected the new president. However, the former president Trivendra Singh Panwar declared the convention illegal and said that Aeri had no right to become the president as the convention itself was illegal.
Both the Aeri and Panwart groups then fought for the possession of the party office. While Panwar sat on a dharna outside the office Aeri supporters stormed in and took possession, resulting in a free-for all. The police had to intervene in the matter to prevent further bloodshed and asked both groups to practice restrain and take the matter up with the Election Commission.
But for the people of the state, it was virtually the last nail in the coffin of their hopes that had started with statehood. But every time the party split, these hopes shattered and on Monday when there was yet another split in the UKD, the people of Uttarakhand did not mince words and said that perhaps they were better off in Uttar Pradesh than they are in their own state for which t5hey went without food, water and dared to face the lathis and bullets.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
Mr Uttarakhand hater,
Which person did you find stating that ” that perhaps they were better off in Uttar Pradesh than they are in their own state”. Will you please stop your anti Uttarakhand agenda.
Dear Piyush
I think you got ot all wrong this article not seperate state. its about what is happening after the birth of Uttarakhand. UKD should be ruling Uttarakhand fulfilling their promises but they are going in wrong direction. Now all the politicians are only thinking about plane areas and big cities of uttarakhand and nobody care about villeges and people who resides there.
I refer to the specific line “that perhaps they were better off in Uttar Pradesh than they are in their own state” and am asking for the justification of the same.
As regards village and interior areas development, I would urge you to base your opinions on the foundation of facts. Please go check the figures as regards roads, electricity, literacy, infant mortality and HDI for the undivided state of UP in 2001 census and the now separate states of UP & Uttarakhand. In every case you would find the growth in UK as double that of UP. What then is the justification of that statement.
Moreover I have specific grouse with this new band of netas and journalists who migrate to Uttarakhand after 2001 and now crib about their diminished power & status in this new small state. The writer seems to belong to the club. This was the bunch which was living like royalty in Lucknow while UK stagnated. I would urge them to return at the earliest.